Signs on utility poles pose serious safety hazard

Signs on utility poles pose serious safety hazard

Covering utility poles with signs for political candidates, lost animals, yard sales and events creates serious safety hazards for utility workers.

Nails, staples, tacks and screws used to post signs can cause serious injury to lineworkers who climb the wooden utility power poles every day to do their job. These items are especially hazardous when the poles are climbed during bad weather to restore power during storms and at night.

When the signs fall off or are removed, the fasteners often remain in the pole, increasing potential hazards for lineworkers to get cut or injured. Nails and staples can obstruct climbing gear, which can cause workers to slip or fall as they climb. Even the tiniest puncture from a tack in rated electrical rubber gloves can expose lineworkers to severe shock potential from energized power lines.

When advertising for a political candidate, lost pet, garage sale or other event, please do not post signs on utility poles.

About SMUD

As the nation's sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader and award winner for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. Today, SMUD's power supply is on average about 50 percent carbon free and SMUD has a goal to reach zero carbon in its electricity production by 2030. SMUD's rates and customer bills are consistently among the lowest in California, and are today, on average, more than 50 percent lower than its neighboring investor-owned utility.